Most new EV owners start with the cable that came with the car, plugged into a normal socket. WorkSafe notes these units supply up to 10 A, which is enough to charge a smaller-battery EV overnight but not a big battery from nearly empty. A wall charger is faster, safer for daily use and can be controlled to charge when power is cheapest.
We install home wall chargers in garages, carports and driveways across Auckland. Before you buy a unit, read our guide to the best home EV chargers in NZ.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
What the safety guidelines require
WorkSafe's EV charging safety guidelines set out how a home charger should be installed. Each charging point needs its own dedicated final subcircuit. Under the 3rd edition addendum, that subcircuit must be protected by a Type B RCD and must start from a switchboard on a MEN (multiple earthed neutral) system. A Type A RCD combined with an RDC-DD to IEC 62955 is an accepted alternative.
Two details catch people out. A Type B RCD built into the charger itself does not replace the protection required on the circuit. And WorkSafe's consumer guidance says the Type A RCDs already found in many houses do not protect against every fault an EV or its charger can produce. A wall-mounted unit must be installed by a registered electrician.
- Dedicated final subcircuit for each charging point
- Type B RCD, or Type A plus an RDC-DD to IEC 62955
- Circuit starts from a MEN switchboard
- Installed by a registered electrician, with a Certificate of Compliance
Is your switchboard ready?
A charger is one of the biggest loads a house will ever carry, often running for hours at a time. WorkSafe warns that older wiring may need upgrading, because high-draw devices create heat, which is a fire risk in wiring not designed for that demand. Old fuse boards, full boards with no room for a new protective device, and boards with no RCDs at all usually need work first.
We check the board, the main supply and your existing load at the quote stage, so you know up front if a switchboard upgrade is needed. If it is, doing both in one visit saves a second call-out.
How It Works
Choosing a charger: smart, single-phase or three-phase
Gen Less says smart wall chargers are at least three times faster than charging from a 3-pin plug, and can load balance: they turn down automatically when the rest of the house is using a lot of power, which reduces the risk of overloading the supply. That matters most in homes with older wiring. EECA also publishes a list of recommended smart chargers chosen for energy efficiency and grid smartness.
Most Auckland homes are single-phase, which limits the charger to about 7 kW. Three-phase supply allows faster charging, but few houses have it and few cars can use it at home. We will tell you honestly whether a bigger charger would actually charge your car any faster.
Buy a charger that is legal in New Zealand
Electric vehicle supply equipment is a medium-risk declared article, so New Zealand suppliers must hold a Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC). WorkSafe suggests asking for a copy before you buy and giving it to your electrician. If a seller cannot supply one, do not install the unit until its safety is verified.
WorkSafe also warns against chargers and cables designed for overseas supply systems and refitted with a New Zealand plug. A test and tag label does not make modified EV equipment safe: AS/NZS 3760 is designed for handheld tools and leads, not EV chargers. Never use household double adaptors or multi-boxes with charging cables.
Where the charger goes and how the cable gets there
The price of most installs depends on the distance from the switchboard to the parking spot and the route the cable takes. A charger on the garage wall beside the board is simple. A carport across the yard may need a trench, conduit and a weatherproof unit. EECA notes you cannot run a charging cable across a public footpath to a car parked on the street.
We mount the charger at a sensible height, close to where the car's charge port ends up, with the tethered cable able to reach without stretching or crossing a walkway.
- Inside the garage beside the switchboard
- Garage on the far side of the house
- Carport or driveway, with an underground cable run
- Townhouse or apartment car parks, subject to body corporate approval
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for EV Charger Installation
Protection done to the guidelines
Every charger goes on a dedicated circuit with Type B RCD protection, or Type A plus an RDC-DD, as WorkSafe sets out.
Switchboard checked at the quote
You find out before you commit whether the board needs work, not halfway through the install.
Honest charger advice
We tell you whether a bigger or smarter unit will help your car and your power bill, or not.
One fixed price
Charger install, cable run and any board work itemised on one written quote.
EV Charger Installation FAQs
Do I need a Type B RCD for an EV charger?
WorkSafe's guidelines require the charger's circuit to be protected by a Type B RCD, or a Type A RCD with an RDC-DD to IEC 62955. A Type B RCD inside the charger does not replace that circuit protection.
Can I keep charging from a normal power point?
Yes, using the manufacturer's charging cable plugged straight into the socket. WorkSafe says these supply up to 10 A, which suits topping up or smaller batteries. Never use an extension lead or double adaptor.
Will I need a switchboard upgrade?
Sometimes. Old fuse boards, full boards and boards with no RCDs often need work. We check at the quote stage.
How fast will a wall charger charge my car?
Gen Less says smart wall chargers are at least three times faster than a 3-pin plug. Actual speed depends on the charger, your supply and the car's onboard charger.
What paperwork do I get?
A Certificate of Compliance for the new circuit, plus the charger's warranty and setup details. Keep the supplier's SDoC with them.
Can you install in a townhouse car park?
Often, yes, but body corporate approval usually comes first. We can supply a scope and specifications for the request.
EV Charger Installation Near You
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